Process for preparing triazines and crosslinked polymers of copolymers

ABSTRACT

This invention (A) relates to a process for producing at preferably low reaction temperatures, a triazine at high levels of conversion and yield from a haloalkane nitrile such as perfluoroalkane nitrile by the novel employment of a catalytic amount of a member selected from the group consisting of (1) an organic amine oxide, (2) an organic amine oxide hydrochloride of said organic amine oxide, and mixtures thereof, and (3) an organometallic catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) an organometallic compound containing at least one metal-tocarbon bond in which said metal is selected from the group consisting of metals of the Periodic Table Groups IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB, IIB, a group VA metal having an atomic weight of at least about 30, and a Group IVA metal, and (b) a metal or metalloxy beta-ketoenolate of the formula:   IN WHICH N IS AN INTEGER EQUAL TO THE VALENCE OF THE METAL OR METALLOXY ION, AND IN WHICH EACH OF R1, R2, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an organic substituent, and in which R2 additionally includes halogen, nitro or sulfo, and also (B) relates to the novel employment of the above described catalyst in a catalytic amount employed with a polymer or copolymer containing at least greater than an average of one cyanohaloalkyl group per molecule of the polymer or copolymer, to form a cross-linked polymer or copolymer.

United States Patent [1 1 Emerson et al.

[451 Apr. 17, 1973 22 Filed:

[54] PROCESS FOR PREPARING TRIAZINES AND CROSSLINKED POLYMERS OF COPOLYMERS [75] Inventors: William E. Emerson; Edwin Dorfman, both of Grand Island, NY.

[73] Assignee: Hooker Chemical Corporation, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

May 22, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 38,651

Related Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 634,877, May l, 1967, aban- 3,542,660 ll/l970 Grindahlet-al .....260/248 Primary Examiner-John M. Ford Anorney- Peter F. Casella, Donald C. Studley,

Richard P. Mueller, James F. Mudd and Edward A.

Meilman 5 7 ABSTRACT This invention (A) relates to a process for producing at preferably low reaction temperatures, a triazine at high levels of conversion and yield from a haloalkane nitrile such as perfluoroalkane nitrile by the novel employment of a catalytic amount of a member selected from the group consisting of (I) an organic amine oxide, (2) an organic amine oxide hydrochloride of said organic amine oxide, and mixtures thereof, and 3) an organometallic catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) an organometallic compound containing at least one metal-to-carbon bond in which said metal is selected from the group consisting of metals of the Periodic Table Groups IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, I8, 118, a group VA metal having an atomic weight of at least about 30, and a Group IVA metal, and (b) a metal or metalloxy beta-ketoenolate of the formula:

in which n is an integer equal to the valence of the metal or metalloxy ion, and in which each of R, R and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an organic substituent, and in which R additionally includes halogen, nitro or sulfo, and also (B) relates to the novel employment of the above described catalyst in a catalytic amount employed with a polymer or copolymer containing at least greater than an average of one cyanohaloalkyl group per molecule of the polymer or c opolymer, to form a cross-linked polymer or copolymer.

9 Claims, No Drawings PROCESS FOR PREPARING TRIAZINES AND CROSSLINKED POLYMERS OF COPOLYMERS This is a division of application Ser. No. 634,877, filed May 1, 1967, now abandoned, but refiled as application Ser. No. 174,547, filed Aug. 24, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,472, issued Sept. 5, 1972. p

This invention is directed to a novel process for producing triazine compounds. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for producing triazines from an organic nitrile such as either an aromatic or an haloalkane nitrile in the presence of at least a catalytic amount of a critical catalyst.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior to this invention, triazines have been produced from nitriles by the employment of a catalytic amount of particular catalysts such as metal oxides or elemental metals, or various combinations of such materials. Although varying degrees of success have been obtained by the employment of such catalysts, because there remain certain problems which have not altogether been overcome, the search for new methods of producing triazines continues. A United States application directed to the condensation of nitriles employing metal oxide catalysts is a copending application Ser. No. 570,183 now abandoned, and a typical patent employing combinations of ingredients which jointly have a catalytic effect sufficiently to convert a nitrile into a triazine is U.S. Pat. No. 3,095,414. One of the components necessary as set forth in the above-referred-to patent is an organometallic compound of Group [IE or IIIB of the Periodic Table.

Literature has been published which'discloses that perfluoroalkyienetriazine polymers which do not contain nitrile groups may be cross-linked by reaction with tetraphenyltin. However, it has been discovered that the. degree of cross-linking is merely a minor amount and isnormally insufficient for practical use in utilities requiring a substantial degree of cross-linking.

One of the problems of typical processes for the conversion of a nitrile into a triazine is theconventional requirement of high temperatures. Another problem relates to the need to obtain both a high yield and a high conversion in the production of a triazine from a nitrile.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to obtain a novel process for the production of a triazine or mixtures of triazines from one or more nitriles.

Another object is a process of producing a triazine from a nitrile at a high degree of conversion and in a high degree of yield.

Another object is a process of producing a novel triazine composition.

Another object is a process which employs a critical catalyst whereby a nitrile is trimerized to form a triazine.

Another object is a process which employs a low reaction temperature in the production of a triazine from a nitrile.

Another object is a process for the production of triazines from haloalkane nitriles by the employment of a critical catalyst.

Another object is a process for cross-linking a polymer or copolymer to form a cross-linked polymer or copolymer.

Another object is a composition comprising novel cross-linked polymer or copolymer thereof,.in combination with a catalyst of this invention.

Other objects become apparent from the above and following disclosure. 1

THE DESCRIPTION The objects of this invention are obtained by a process comprising contacting (A) at least a catalytic amount of a first member selected from the group consisting of an organic amine oxide such as (l) a cyclic amine oxide, a heterocyclic amine oxide, and either a substituted or non-substituted alkylamine oxide, and mixtures thereof, (2) an organic amine oxide hydrochloride of said organic amine oxide and mixtures thereof, and (3) an organometallic catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) an organometallic compound containing at least one metalto-carbon bond in which said metal is selected from the group consisting of metals of the Periodic Table Groups IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB, IIB, a Group VA metal having an atomic weight of at least about 30, and a Group IVA metal, and (b) :a metal or metalloxy beta-ketoenolate of the formula:

in which M is a metal ion or a metalloxy ion (such as vanadyl), in which n is an integer equal to the valence of the metal or metalloxy ion, in which each of R and R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and anorganic substituent such as alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, and substituted forms thereof whereinsubstituents of said substituted forms thereof include at least one substituent selected from thegroup consisting of halogen, alkoxy, aryloxy, and the like, provided the substituent does not cause the beta-ketoenolate to become inoperative as a catalyst for purposes of this invention, and in which R is selected from the group consisting of the substituents of R and R halogen, nitro, and sulfo, and the like, and mixtures of two or more of said first member with (B) a second member selected from the group consisting of (l) at least one organic nitrile and mixtures of two or more of said organic nitrile, and (2) at least one polymer or copolymer which contains an average of at least more than one nitrile group per molecule of said polymer or copolymer, and mixtures of two or more of said polymer or copolymer, said contacting being at a temperature and a for a tinie-pcriod sufficient to produce, respectively, a composition comprising (1) a triazine composition or (2) a crossdinlted polymer or copolymer composition containing said first member, and said contacting being in the absence of a catalytic amount of a composition comprising (1) an inorganic salt or an alcoholate of a metal of the Periodic Table Groups IV, VA, VIA, and VIII, and (2) an on ganometallic compound of a metal selected from the group consisting of the Periodic Table Groups H13 and i118.

The preceding paragraph refers'to the necessity of an average of at least more than one nitrile group per molecule. Thereby, this invention requires (1) that at least one polymer or copolymer molecule contain two would constitute merely a filler material. In a like manner, the language at least greater than an average of one cyanofluoroalkyl group per molecule has the same meaning. Also it should be noted that the degree of cross-linking increases with a corresponding increase in the number of nitrile groups per molecule. The optimum number of nitrile groups on the chain will therefore depend upon the properties desired for a particular use. Also, the optimum number of nitrile groups on the molecule depends upon the molecular weight of the; polymer or copolymer employed. It should be noted that it is within the scope of this invention to emplo'y polymers or copolymers such as triazine polymers which may be degraded by some means such as by milling, for example, to produce fragments, some of which contain the nitrile groups.

The preferred nitrile is a haloalkane nitrile. Within this group is the preferred perhaloalkane nitrile preferably selected from the group consisting of perfluorooctanonitrile, trichloroacetonitrile, 4-bromohexafluorobutyronitrile and mixtures thereof, in which said triazine composition comprises tris(perfluoroheptyl)triazine, tris(trichloromethyl )triazine, tris( 3 bromohexafluoropropyl)triazine, and mixtures thereof. The polymer or copolymer preferably is selected from the group consisting of perfiuoroalkylenetriazine polymers and copolymers, perfluoroalkylene ether polymers, perfluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymers, fluoroalkyl silicone v polymers, tetrafluoroethylene-nitrosotrifluoromethane copolymers, each of which contains at least greater than an average of one cyanoperfluoroalkyl group per molecule, and mixtures thereof.

A novel aspect of this invention resides in the employment of a critical catalyst as defined above. It has unexpectedly been discovered that by the employment of the catalyst of this invention, one or more of the above objects are thereby obtained, depending upon the particular catalyst employed. Also, in view of particular prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,095,414, which required the'presence of a particular salt with an organometallic compound, and moreover, which required the presence of a particular salt with an organometallic compound of metals selected from particular groups of the Periodic Table, it was unexpectedly discovered that the objects of this invention may be obtained by the employment of the catalyst of this invention in the absence either of the particular salt of U.S. Pat. No. 3,095,414 or of an inorganic oxide such as disclosed in the copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 570,183, referred to above. Moreover, it has been discovered unexpectedly that by the employment of certain of the preferred catalysts of this invention, the reaction of our invention will take place at unexpectedly low temperatures.

The novel process of this invention includes the steps of curing a polymer or copolymer in which at least greater than an average of one nitrile group per molecule is a part of a cyanohaloalkyl group, in the presence of the above described catalyst, the curing being (1) at a sufficiently elevated temperature and for a period sufficiently long and (2) in the presence of a sufficient number of polymer cyanohaloalkyl groups, to cross-link (vulcanize) to form a cross-linked polymer or a cross-linked copolymer. The process may employ any polymeric composition having at least greater than an average of one cyanohaloalkyl group per molecule, in the novel presence of a catalytic amount of the catalyst of this invention to cross-link to form a crosslinked polymer or copolymer of this invention. The polymers and copolymers of the novel curing process exhibit novel properties different from what might appear to be corresponding cross-linked polymers'and copolymers produced by other methods. The particular properties depend upon which catalyst of this invention is employed. For example, a novel use of the polymer composition of this invention is the employment as a sealant for high temperature use, and it may be cured in situ- Although particularleriodie Table Groups of the metals of the metal-to-carbon bonded organometallic compounds are employed in the description of embodiments of this invention, and although Group IB, and Group IIB are not conventionally included in the term transition metals, it nevertheless should be noted that experimental evidence suggests that the transition metals and also metals of Group IB, Group IIB, Group IVA, and Group VA may be satisfactorily employed as the metal for the metal-to-carbon bonded organometallic compounds of this invention.

A preferred organic amine oxide or hydrochloride thereof is a polyalkyl compound such as trialkylamine oxide or the hydrochloride thereof.

Typical alkylamine oxide and alkylamine oxide hydrochloride catalysts within the scope of this invention may include alkyl substituents such as methyl, butyl, propyl, ethyl, benzyl, phenethyl substituted forms thereof, hydrochlorides thereof, and the like, so long as the objects of this invention are obtained thereby. Aromatic amine oxides typically include N,N-dimethyl-N- phenylamine oxide. .Typical preferred organic amine oxides include trimethylamine oxide, N-ethyl-N- methyl-N-butylamine oxide, and N,N-diethyl-N- phenethylamine oxide. Typical preferred amine oxide hydrochlorides include trimethylamine oxide hydrochloride and pyridine-N-oxide hydrochloride. For example, the catalyst trimethylamine oxide hydrochloride employed with, for example, perfluorooctanonitrile, at normally a trimerization temperature of about C. for a period of about 19 hours produced a conversion of about 12 percent. The obtaining of this conversion at such a low temperature is highly unexpected.

Illustrative cyclic amine oxides and cyclic oxide hydrochlorides within the scope of this invention typically include N,N-dimethyl-N-cyclohexylamine oxide, N,N-dimethyl-N-phenylamine oxide, hydrochlorides thereof; and the like.

Illustrative heterocyclic amine oxides typically include: l,4-dioxo-l, 4-diaza[2,2,2]bicyciooctane; phenazine-N-oxide, pyridine-N-oxide; Nmethylmorpholine-N-oxide; N-methylpiperidine-N-oxide; hydrochlorides thereof; and the like.

Illustrative metal-to-carbon bonded organometallic catalytic compounds typically include: (1) the preferred organotin catalysts such as preferably tetraphenyltin, dibutyltin sulfide, tributyltin acrylate, triphenyltin chloride, hexabutylditin, dibutyldivinyltin, triethyltin chloride, tetraethyltin, dibutyltin diacetate, dioctyltin maleate, triphenyltin hydroxide, tetravinyltin, and the like; (2) the preferred organoantimony catalysts such as preferably tributylantimony, tributylantimony oxide, triphenylantimony, triphenylantimony sulfide, and the like; (3) organolead catalysts such as preferably tetraphenyllead; (4) organomercury catalysts such as phenylmercuric acetate and diphenylmercury, (5) organoarsenic catalysts such as triphenylarsine and triphenylarsine oxide; (6) organoiron catalysts such as ferrocene (dicyclopentadienyl iron), chloromercurife rrocene, acetylferrocene, 1-1 bis(chloromercuro)ferrocene, and bis(cyclopentadienyl)iron dicarbonyl dimer; (7) organotitanium catalysts such as bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride; (8) organozirconium catalysts such as preferably bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; (9) organophosphorus catalysts such as triphenylphosphine sulfide, dihexylphosphine oxide, trioctylphosphine oxide, triphenylphosphine, and preferably triphenylphosphine sulfide; (10) an organosilicon catalyst such as hexamethyldisilazane, triphenylsilicon azide, and the like; (11) an organocobalt catalyst such as dicobalt octacarbonyl and the like; (12) an organochromium catalyst such as chromium hexacarbonyl, and toluene chromium tricarbonyl, and the like; (13) an organobismuth catalyst such as triphenylbismuthine; (14) an organovanadium catalyst such as vanadium carbonyl; (15) an organomanganese catalyst such as manganese pentacarbonyl; and (16) an organotungsten catalyst such as tungsten hexacarbonyl.

Another typical catalyst within the scope of this invention, tributylantimony, when employed with perfluorooctanonitrile, produces about a 12 percent conversion in about 42 hours at a temperature of'about 32 C. Again, this conversion at this exceedingly low temperature was highly unexpected.

Another catalyst within the scope of this invention, ttibutylantimony oxide, employed with perfluorooctanonitrile, produces a conversion of about 15 percent both (1) within the unexpectedly short period of 1.5 hours, and (2) at an unexpectedly low temperature of about 30 C. I

The catalysts tributylantimony, tributylantimony oxide, and trialkylamine oxide hydrochlorides (such as trimethylamine oxide hydrochloride) are each highly preferred embodiments of this invention which when employed produce high yields and/or as well as high conversions, at the unexpectedly low trimerization temperatures.

0f the catalysts of this invention, preferred results were obtained by the employment of tetraphenyltin which, for example, at about 20 hours at about 160 C. produced 100 percent yield and IOOpercent conversion, and by the employment of tetraphenyllead which,

' for example, at about 20 hours and at about 190 C.

produced about 100 percent yield and about 93 percent conversion.

Also, under similar conditions, preferred results are obtained from dibutyltin sulfide which gives about a 100 percent yield and about a 100 percent conversion, tributyltin acrylate which gives about a 100 percent yield and about a 90 percent conversion, hexabutyl ditin which gives about a 100 percent yield and about a 92 percent conversion, dibutyldivinyltin which gives about a 100 percent yield and about a 100 percent conversion, triethyltin chloride which gives about a 100 percent yield and about a 100 percent conversion, tetr'aethyltin which gives about a 100 percent yield and about. a 95 percent conversion, acetylacetonate which gives about a 100 percent yield and about a 100 percent conversion, and diphenylmercury which gives about a 100 percent yield and about a 95 percent conversion, at about 190 C. for about 20 hours.

As briefly discussed above, the particular trimerization temperature and also the length of the period of trimerization at a given temperature determine to a significant degree the extent to which trimerization is carried to completion if trimerization occurs at all at that particular temperature. Thus, the temperature and period of trimerization must be adjusted to the particular catalyst employed. There is a substantial amount of experimental evidence which substantiates that some catalysts of this invention which appear to be substantially ineffective as trimerization catalysts at lower temperatures produce good results at higher trimerization temperatures. For example, as stated above, the preferred tributylantimony, tributylantimony oxide, and trialkylamine oxide hydrochloride each produce good results at unexpectedly low trimerization temperatures. In contrast, tetraphenyltin and dibutyltin sulfide each are significantly more effective at temperatures substantially above about 30 C. (such as about C.) with perfluorooctanonitrile. Accordingly, the absence of good results at a given temperature for a particular catalyst of this invention is merely evidence that to obtain improved results for that particular catalyst, a higher temperature and/or a longer period must be employed for that particular nitrile.

The preferred metal-to-carbon bonded phosphorus ,compounds are the sulfides such as triphenylphosphine sulfide. Experimental evidence suggests that for nonsulfide phosphorus compounds such as triphenylphosphine, successful (satisfactory) trimerization conditions must include a temperature above about C. and/or a trimerization period greater than about 20 hours, when the particular nitrile is perfluorooctanonitrile. For example, at 190 C. for 20 hours, trioc tylphosphine oxide produces merely ipercent conver sion; see Example V, Experiment No. 6.

Similarly, whereas iron is the preferred metal of Group VIII metahto-carbon bonded catalytic cornpounds, nickel is less desirable for perfluorooc tanonitrile on the basis of analogous experimental evidence.

Based on additional analogous experimental evidence of the type discussed above for perfluorooctanonitrile, tin and lead are preferred metals, for metalto-carbon bonded compounds, for Group IVA as contrasted for example to silicon or germanium, for compounds such as tetraphenylsilane and tetraphenylgermanium; thus the preferred metals of Group IVA have an atomic weight of at leastl 18.

barium Based on additional analogous experimental evidence employing acetylacetonates of aluminum,

hydrochlorides takes place at lower temperatures and at shorter periods than the corresponding organic amine oxides, and that trimethylamine oxide is substantially inactive at temperatures of about 70 C. or less, as compared to the hydrochloride thereof.

Other typical catalysts illustrative of compounds within the scope of this invention include tributylamine oxide, organometallic compounds of metal such as molybdenum, manganese, silver and the like, and metal or metalloxy beta-ketoenolates in which the R, and/or R, and R are substituents such as methyl, phenyl, cyclohexyl, phenethyl, methylphenyl, ethoxy, phenoxy, and the like.

In the preceding disclosure, the term percent conversion refers to the degree to which a nitrile is converted during the trimerization reaction, whereas the term percentage yield refers to the percentage of converted nitrile which is triazine. Additionally it should be noted, however, that the percentage yield and the percentage conversion for each of the catalysts as given above is not intended as a limitation restricting the scope of any one or more of the above catalysts, the conversion and yield data given for each catalyst being only illustrative of the relative value of the various catalysts of this invention in comparison to each other. Also, the considerations of conversion and yield for a particular catalyst are not considered solely in abstraction, but must be considered with other advantages or disadvantages, such as the required reaction time and/or temperature to obtain the particular conversion and/or yield. Also, for example, the ready, commercial availability of a particular catalyst or the components from which they are produced, is also a factor of major importance.

The embodiment of this invention employing organometallic catalysts, based upon current terminology, requires that organometallic catalysts be divided into two separate and distinct groups. One group of compounds which constitute typical catalysts within the scope of this invention is defined as aboveidentified metal-carbon bonded organometallic compounds in which the metal typically is tin, lead, arsenic, antimony, phosphorus, bismuth, mercury, iron, titanium, zirconium, and the like. The second group of catalysts is defined as the above-identified metal or metalloxy beta-ketoenolates in which the metal is preferably calcium, barium, copper, cobalt, iron, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, titanium, vanadium, zirconium, magnesium, sodium, thorium, and the like.

The organic nitrile which may be employed as the beginning reactant in this invention generally includes any conventional organic nitrile such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,095,414 and copending application U.S. Ser. No. 570,183 now abandoned. Accordingly,

organic nitriles listed in the above patent such as: 2- methylbenzonitrile; 3-ethylbenzonitrile; 4-butylbenzonitrile; 3-nitrobenzonitrile; 2-ethyl-4- nitrobenzonitrile; 2,4-dimethylbenzonitrile; 2,6- dimethylbenzo nitrile; 2-ethyl-3,4,5-trimethylbenzonitrile; l-naphthonitrile; 2-naphthonitrile; 3-

methyl- 1 -napthonitrile; l-cyanoanthracene; 2- cyanoanthracene; trichloroacetonitrile; trimethylace tonitrile; tribromoacetonitrile; 2 ,2-

dichloropropionitrile; 2,2-diodopropionitrile; 2-iodo-2- methylvaleronitrile; 2,2-difluoro-l-decyl cyanide, and the like, may be employed. Similarly, organic nitriles of the above-cited copending application which are typical beginning reactants for this invention include: perperfluoroethyladiponitrile; perfluorosuberonitrile; perfluorosebaconitrile; perfluorovaleronitrile; bromodifluoroacetonitrile; perfluoroadiponitrile; perfluortetradecane dinitrile; perfluoromethoxypropionitrile; perfluorethoxypropionitrile; perfluorocapronitrile; 3 ,4-dibromopentafluorobutyronitrile; trifluoromethylbenzonitrile; chlorobenzonitrile; dichlorobenzonitrile;

polyehlorobenzonitriles; perfluorododecane nitrile; perfluorotetradecane nitrile; perfluorostearonitrile;

benzonitrile; 2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzonitrile; perfluorooleonitrile; m-( trifluoromethylbenzoyl )benzonitrile; 2-phenyl-2,4,4,4-

tetrafluoroacetoacetonitrile; perfluorobenzonitrile, nitriles of the formula:

wherein m is one or more wherein R, is lower perfluoroalkyl and R,is selected from the group consisting of flourine and perfluoroalkyl of from one to 12 carbon atoms, such as:

| UFaCFzOCFCN and the like; nitriles of the formula:

wherein T is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen, R," is perfluoroalkylene of one to 12 carbon atoms, and n is from 1 to 10, such as:

perfluoroisobutyloxypropionitrile, perfluorohexyloxypropionitrile, perfluorooctyloxypropionitrile, and the like; and mixtures of the aforementioned nitriles. It is to be understood that the above-listed organic nitriles are not all inclusive, but are merely intended to illustrate some of the compounds which are contemplated for purposes of this invention.

As noted above, it is'within the scope of this invention to employ nitriles such as benzonitrile or acetonitrile, for example. However, for nitriles of this general type, experimental evidence'suggests that a trimerization temperature and trimerization period must exceed about 190 C. and/or about 20 hours to produce a triazine, when employing random catalysts of this invention. For example, at about 190 C. for 20 hours,.there appeared to be no significant trimerization reaction for each of the following aromatic nitriles with any one of the following respective catalysts: (l) p nitrobenzonitrile with any one of tributylantimony, or tetraphenyllead, or tributyltin chloride; (2) lnaphthonitrile with any one of tetraphenyltin, or triphe'nylbismuth, or copper acetylacetonate; (3) pfluorobenzonitrile with any one of N-methylmorpholine oxide, or dibutyltin sulfide, or bis( cyclopentadienyl )titanium dichloride; (4)

anisonitrile with any one of barium acetylacetonate, or ferrocene, or lead acetylacetonate; and (5) pchlorobenzonitrile with any one of diphenylmercury or tetraphenyltin, or triphenylphosphine sulfide.

Therefore, as noted above, the haloalkane nitriles are the preferred reactants, for this invention. These nitriles are characteristically trimerized at 190 C. or less, in 20 or less hours. For example, at 190 C for 20 hours, for each of tetraphenyltin and tributylantimony 'oxide, 100 percent yields and conversions are obtained,

perfluorobutyronitrile, perfluorosuberonitril'e, perfluorosebaconitrile, perfluorovaleronitrile, perfluorotetradecane dinitrile, perfluoroethoxypropionitrile, difluoroacetonitrile, trifluoroacetonitrile, I pentafluoropropionitrile, bromotetrafluoropropionitrile, bromooctafluorovaleronitrile, nonofluoro-B-thiabutyronitrile,

monofluoroacetonitrile, trichloroacetonitrile, and the like.

In order to bring about the trimerization reaction, it is merely necessary that the amount of catalyst be sufficient, based on percentage byweight of the nitrile employed to initiate and maintain a trimerization reaction. Except for practical purposes, there is no known maximum amount. However, because the catalyst normally would have to be removed from the reaction product, i.e., separated therefrom, it normally would be desirable to employ as little catalyst as necessary to accomplish the desired result. There would rarely be and need to employ higher than percent of catalyst, based on the weight of the nitrile employed. The minimum amount of catalyst found to be normally necessary is at least about 0.01 percent by weight. The preferred percentage range is from about 0.05 percent to about 10 percent by weight.

The nitrile trimerization reaction may be run in any solvent which does not adversely react with the nitrile, the catalyst, or the reaction products of the nitrile and catalyst. Suitable solvents include, e.g., n-butyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride, ortho-chlorotoluene, chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, cyclohexanone, orthodichlorobenzene, diethylcarbitol, dimethylsulfoxide, dioxane, ethyl acetate, and the like. This list is merely illustrative, and does not purport to describe the vast number of solvents which can be used in the process of this invention. Similarly, 'such solvents may be employed with the polymer or copolymer composition (mixture) of this invention, for uses such as paints, sealants, and coatings.

The process of this invention is normally operable at a temperature of from zero to about 400 C., though it is preferably practiced in the 0 C. to about 250 C. range depending upon the particular catalyst employed, more preferably above about 15 C., and ineluding a curing temperature up to preferably about 190 C. for the polymer or copolymer. Although it is normally desirable that the temperature employed be near room temperature if a good yield and conversion can be obtained, it is solely by the employment of particular preferred embodiments of this invention that it is possible to produce satisfactory yields at this low temperature, for example.

The reaction time is typically dependent on several factors such as the particular catalyst employed, the amount of catalyst employed, the temperature at which the reaction is carried out, and the degree of conversion desired, for example. A reaction time of from about 2 hours up to about 7 days is normally satisfactory.

The degree of cross-linking for polymers and copolymers of this invention has been found to depend on the number of cyanohaloalkyl groups along the polymer chain, theamount of catalyst used, and on the time and the temperature range which is used in the curing process of the polymer. The-polymers which have been cross-linked by this method have been perfluoroalkylenetriazine polymers of a wide range of molecular weight.

Lower molecular weight perfluoroalkylenetriazine polymers which have nitrile groups only at the polymer chain ends have been cured catalytically. Perfluoroalkylenetriazine polymers which have cyanoperfluoroalkyl groups at the 6 position of the triazine ring have also been successfully cured. The percentage of cyanoperfluoroalkyl groups at the 6 position of the triazine ring on these polymer molecules may vary from less than 1 percent up to percent. A preferred percentage is from about 3 percent to 20 percent of nitrilecontaining groups in the oposition of the triazine ring. Perfluoroalkylenetriazine polymers have been described in our copending application U.S. Ser. No. 5 33,430, which disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

Other fluorine-containing polymers such as the tetrafluoroethylene-trifiuoronitrosomethane copolymer might also be cured by these catalytic curing processes. Perfluoroalkylene ether polymers, perfluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymers, and

- fluoroalkyl silicone polymers and the like, also, typically may be cured by this catalyst.

The triazine and cross-linked polymer or copolymer products produced by this invention are typically useful 5 ploying triphenylantimony, triphenylbismuth, v dibutylin applications requiring high-temperature stability and tin diacetate, diphenyltin dichloride and tetramethylchemical stability. The specific triazines produced by tin, respectively which gave conversions of 18 percent, this invention are useful both as high temperature lubri- 12 percent, 50 percent, 39 percent, and 1 percent cants and solvents, whereas the polymer or copolymer respectively. In other experiments, perfluoroocp oduc d when a dinitrile is condensed is useful in tanonitrile was admixed in separate consecutive experipreparing highly heat-resistant molded articles. ments with acetylacetonates of metals such as cobalt, The following Examples are not intended to limit the iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, titanium, invention disclosed herein except to the extent that adium, zinc, zirconium, and magnesium and conlimitations are specifically stated or t0 the extent to 15 versions ranging from about 1 mole percent to abouts which limitations appear in the appended claims. All mole percent were obtained. percentages are based on percent of theory unless Stated EXAMPLE IV (EXPERIMENTS 1-11 EXAMPLEI In this Example, 3.56 parts of perfluorooctanonitrile In the followmg expenmellts.as Set forth m p I below, a perfluoroalkylenetriazine polymer containing was mixed with 0.384 parts of tetraphenyltm and was from I to 20 c ano erfluoro r0 l mu 8 for ever 99 heated to about 160 C. for about 20 hours. The y p p py g y d t bt d thereb was anal Zed b infrared to 80 perfluoropropyl groups respectively in the pm 0 al e y y polymer molecule was mixed with about 5 percent by and found to be tr1s(perfluoroheptyl)triazlne. The yield and the conversion were both about 100 ercent weight of catalyst (1 polymer per catalyst) p The mixtures were then heated for the periods of time EXAMPLE H indicated, then tested for solubility in hexafluoroxylene which dissolves uncross-linked perfluoroal- In this expenmem, Parts of perfluorooc' 3Q kylenetriazine polymers but not the cross-linked tanonitrile was admixed with 0.232 parts of tetraphenpolymers yllead, and was heated at about for about 20 As can be seen, vulcanization (i.e., curing or crosshours. The product thereof was analyzed by infrared li ki Occurs t temperatures hi h 'range f 25 and was found to be tris(-perfluorohepty1)-triazine. The C. to 150 C. Curing with tetraphenyltin is generally conversion was 93 percent and the yield was 100 perdone at 150 C. for 19 hours. Postcuring. often incent. creases the tensile strength of the vulcanized polymer.

TABLE I Experiment number Catalyst Temp., C. Hours Solubility Copper acetmylacewnate" 150 97 Insoluble. Barium acetylaeetonate 150 97 Do. N-methylmorplioline-N-oxide f 25 97 Partly soluble.

I 97 Insoluble. Dibutyltin sulfide 150 97 Insoluble. 5 Tributylantimony; 25 263 Insolubl 60 97 Do. 6 Tributylantimony oxide j 25 263 Insoluble.

1 e0 97 Do. 7 Trimethylmnim: oxide l1ydrochloride 263 Insolubl 8 I)ipllenylnlm'cury 97 Do. E) l el'rocene G0 263 Insoluble.

100 97 Do. 10 'Ietrzmhenylluad 150 97 Insoluble. 11 Dihutyldivinyltin 60 U7 D0,

1 The indentity of this compound is not definitely confirmed at present; in any event, it is the product of the process of treating M-inethylrnorpliolii1e with hydrogen peroxide.

EXAMPLE III About 3.56 parts of perfluorooctanonitrile was admixed with about 0.118 parts of cupric acetylacetonate, and heated at about 190 C. for about 20 hours in a sealed tube. The product formed thereby was analyzed by infrared and found to be tris-(per- EXAMPLE V (EXPERIMENTS l-2l In each of the Experiments l-2l about 3.56 parts of perfluorooctanonitrile was subjected to the trimerization conditions and catalyst amounts as set forth in Table II below, in which the amount of catalyst employed is about 5 mole percent based on the number of moles of perfluorooctanonitrile.

TABLE II Percent Temp., Experiment number Catalyst degrees Hours Conversion Yield 1 Dinetyltinnmlente 190 20 100 100 2 Tiiphenyltinhydioude 100 20 100 100 3 'ltti winyltinn, 190 20 100 100 4 Tvtravinyltin 25 20 N.R. 5 lIexznnethyldisiluznne 190 20 6 100 6 'lrioetylphosphine oxide 2 190 20 1 100 7 Triphenylantiinony sulfide 190 20 13 100 8 "d0 25 20 5 N.R.

TABLE II Continued Percent Experiment number Catalyst degrees lIours Conversion Yield 0.... 100 20 3 100 25 20 NR. l 190 20 47 100 l 190 20 69 100 13- Chromium hcxacarbonyl 190 20 1 100 14 do 25 20 NE. 15 Dlcobalt octacarbonyl 4 190 73 100 mm. do 20 N.R. 17 Dicyclopentadienyliroi1dicarbcnyldimer' 190 20 22 100 18 rick; 25 20 N.R. 1g Cbloromctcurlfcrrocenc 190 20 3 100 20 Acctyll'erroccuc 190 20 5 100 l,l-l)is(chloromcrcuri) for 190 20 3 100 4 A metal-carbonyl com pound. 5 NR=N0 reactionv EXAMPLE VI In an additional series of experiments, following a procedure identical to EXAMPLE V, 100% yields and 13%, 40%, 63%, 40%, 13%, 67%, and 1% conversions, respectively, were obtained from the catalysts vanadium carbonyl, tungsten hexacarbonyl[w(CO) manganese pentacarbonyl [Mn(CO) molybdenum hexacarbonyl [Mo(CO),,], bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride, ferrocene, and bis(cyclopentadienyl)zir coniumdichloride '[(C l-l ZrCl respectively, at 190 C. for each experiment.

i It is to be understood that the specificatiomincluding the Examples, are only illustrative of the invention claimed herein, and that it is within the scope of this invention to employ equivalents'obvious to one skilled in the art. Any limitations appearing in the preceding disclosure are not intended to limit this invention except insofar as the limitations are stated to be improtant or otherwise appear in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a process which comprises trirnerizing at least one organic nitrile to produce a triazine, the improve ment which comprises reacting said nitrile in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of 1) an organic amine oxide selected from the group consisting of an alkylamine oxide wherein the alkyl groups have one to eight carbon atoms; N,N-dimethyl-N-cyclohexylamine oxide; N,N-dimethyl-N-phenylamine oxide; l,4-dioxol,4-diaza[2,2,2]bicyclooctane; phenazine-N-oxide, pyridine-N-oxide; N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide; and N-methylpiperidine-N-oxide; (2) an organic amine oxide hydrochloride of said organic amine oxide; and (3) an organometallic catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) an organometallic compound containing at least one metal-to-carbon bond in which said metal is selected from the group consisting of metals of the Periodic Table Groups lB, H13, H18, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, and VIII, silicon, lead, phosphorus and bismuth; (b) a compound selected from the group consisting of tetraphenyltin, dibutyltin sulfide, tributyltin acrylate, triphenyltin chloride, hexabutylditin, dibutyldivinyltin, tributyltin chloride, triethyltin chloride, tetraethyltin, dibutyltin diacetate, dioctyltin maleate, dibutyltin distearate, tetravinyltin, tetramethyltin, diphenyltin 11 active organosilicon compound, i.c., hcxamctliyldisilazane [(CIhhSiNIISKCIIQ non-sulfur containing phosphorus compound, 1.0., trmctylphosphine oxide.

() i.e., phenaZiuc-N-oxide (in the class ol'lletcrocyclic compounds).

dichloride, triphenylantimony dichloride, tributyl antimony, triphenylantimony, triphenylantimony sulfide, and triphenylarsine; and (c) a metal or metalloxy betaketoenolate of the formula;-

teger equal to the valence of the metal or metalloxy ion, in which each of R and R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an organic substituent selected from alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy having one to eight carbon atoms and wherein each aryl substituent is carbocyclic, and in which R is selected from the group consisting of RHR, halogen, nitro, and sulfo; and mixtures of two or more of said catalysts. 1

2.- A process according to claim 1 wherein said organic nitrile is. a haloalkane nitrile, and wherein said catalyst is present in an amount of at least about 0.01-

percent by weight.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein said haloalkane nitrile is a perhaloalkane nitrile, wherein said temperature is a minimum of about 0 C., and wherein said catalyst is present in the range of about 0.5 percent to about 10 percent by weight.

4. The process according to claim 3 wherein said perhaloalkane nitrile is selected from the group consisting of perfluorooctanonitrile, trichloroacetonitrile, 4- bromohexafluorobutyronitrile and mixtures thereof.

5. The process according to claim 3 wherein the metal of said organometallic catalyst is selected from the group consisting of lead, silicon, bismuth, mercury, titanium, iron, zirconium, chromium, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, manganese, molybdenum and phosphorus.

6. The process according to claim 3 wherein said or ganometallic catalyst is selected from the group consisting of tetraphenyltin,dibutyltin sulfide, tributyltin acrylate, triphenyltin chloride, hexabutylditin, dibutylphenazine-N-oxide, pyridine-N-oxide, N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide, N-methylpiperidine-N-oxide; N- methyl-N,N-dibenzylamine oxide; N,N-diethyl-N- phenethylamine oxide; trimethylamine oxide; triethylamine oxide; tripropylamine oxide; N-ethyl-N- methyl-N-butylamine oxide; N,N-diethyl-N-cyclohexylamine oxide and N,N-dimethyl-N-phenylamine ox- I ide, vand wherein said organic amine oxide hydrochloride is selected from the group consisting of trimethylamine oxide hydrochloride and pyridine-N- oxide hydrochloride. 

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein said organic nitrile is a haloalkane nitrile, and wherein said catalyst is present in an amount of at least about 0.01 percent by weight.
 3. A process according to claim 1 wherein said haloalkane nitrile is a perhaloalkane nitrile, wherein said temperature is a minimum of about 0* C., and wherein said catalyst is present in the range of about 0.5 percent to about 10 percent by weight.
 4. The process according to claim 3 wherein said perhaloalkane nitrile is selected from the group consisting of perfluorooctanonitrile, trichloroacetonitrile, 4-bromohexafluorobutyronitrile and mixtures thereof.
 5. The process according to claim 3 wherein the metal of said organometallic catalyst is selected from the group consisting of lead, silicon, bismuth, mercury, titanium, iron, zirconium, chromium, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, manganese, molybdenum and phosphorus.
 6. The process according to claim 3 wherein said organometallic catalyst is selected from the group consisting of tetraphenyltin, dibutyltin sulfide, tributyltin acrylate, triphenyltin chloride, hexabutylditin, dibutyldivinyltin, tributyltin chloride, triethyltin chloride, tetraethyltin, dibutyltin diacetate, dioctyltin maleate, dibutyltin distearate, tetravinyltin, tetramethyltin and diphenyltin dichloride.
 7. The process according to claim 3 wherein said organo metallic catalyst is selected from the group consisting of tributylantimony, triphenylantimony, triphenylantimony dichloride and triphenylantimony sulfide.
 8. The process according to claim 3 wherein the metal or metalloxy beta-ketoenolate is a metal or metalloxy acetylacetonate.
 9. The process according to claim 3 wherein said organic aminE oxide is selected from the group consisting of 1,4-dioxo-1,4-diaza (2,2,2)bicyclooctane, phenazine-N-oxide, pyridine-N-oxide, N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide, N-methylpiperidine-N-oxide; N-methyl-N,N-dibenzylamine oxide; N,N-diethyl-N-phenethylamine oxide; trimethylamine oxide; triethylamine oxide; tripropylamine oxide; N-ethyl-N-methyl-N-butylamine oxide; N,N-diethyl-N-cyclohexylamine oxide and N,N-dimethyl-N-phenylamine oxide, and wherein said organic amine oxide hydrochloride is selected from the group consisting of trimethylamine oxide hydrochloride and pyridine-N-oxide hydrochloride. 